Urge C'ville City Council to Pass a Resolution Against Attacking Iran

We've collected over 1500 signatures on a petition to Charlottesville City Council asking for a resolution opposing an attack on Iran. You can now sign the petition online as well. It's hosted on another site, where you have to register and login. Once you've done that, PLEASE TAKE ONE MINUTE TO SIGN NOW.

We'll be attending the City Council's meeting at City Hall on the evening of Monday, October 6th, at 7 p.m. Please join us. Numbers will matter.

We are almost certain to run up against the argument that it is inappropriate for a local government to assist people in communicating with a bigger government. But in most localities (not sure about Cville - ???) city council members take an oath of office promising to "protect and defend the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic." They don't take an oath to fix potholes. If the Constitution is in danger, then their primary duty is to defend it. If it is safe, and they have time on their hands, then they can fix potholes.

Cities and towns routinely send petitions to Congress for all kinds of requests. This is allowed under Clause 3, Rule XII, Section 819, of the Rules of the House of Representatives. This clause is routinely used to accept petitions from cities, and memorials from states, all across America.

If a federal action could have a significant negative impact on a city, then it is appropriate for the city to defend itself. Citizens from this city may be sent, or have been sent, to Iraq to fight in an illegal and unjustified war. Tax funds from this city that could have been spent locally have been spent in Iraq for war. Tax money from this city has been wasted in no-bid contracts with companies like Halliburton with deep ties to the Bush administration. Yet this city can barely afford the emergency services, libraries, and schools that we need. For the specific cost, see http://www.costofwar.com

The state National Guard should be available to protect this city from floods, hurricanes, earthquakes or other disasters. But instead they have been sent to Iraq by President Bush.